Taking photos of aircraft while boarding?
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Just to repeat myself as it seems to have been missed.
Airports and aircraft are not public spaces.
While there is an assumption that in public spaces you may be photographed by anyone, I would think most people, while in a public space, would find it uncomfortable if a stranger where to stop, take a few photos of them, and then walk off again.
Translate that situation to an airport or an aircraft, which are areas of restricted access and more akin too or actual private property, where the stranger with the camera might be thinking it is only a few photos, but for the person at the other end of the lens it might be stranger number 5, 10 or 25 that day pointing a camera in their direction.
On a number of occasions I have noticed people standing with their cameras appearing to take photos while I was doing my walkaround. I have then gone and got my own camera and if they were still there when I got outside again I have pretended to take pictures of them. On each occasion they disappeared almost immediately. They certainly didn't like being photographed, so what made them think I did?
Airports and aircraft are not public spaces.
While there is an assumption that in public spaces you may be photographed by anyone, I would think most people, while in a public space, would find it uncomfortable if a stranger where to stop, take a few photos of them, and then walk off again.
Translate that situation to an airport or an aircraft, which are areas of restricted access and more akin too or actual private property, where the stranger with the camera might be thinking it is only a few photos, but for the person at the other end of the lens it might be stranger number 5, 10 or 25 that day pointing a camera in their direction.
On a number of occasions I have noticed people standing with their cameras appearing to take photos while I was doing my walkaround. I have then gone and got my own camera and if they were still there when I got outside again I have pretended to take pictures of them. On each occasion they disappeared almost immediately. They certainly didn't like being photographed, so what made them think I did?
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I recall the incident, it did look damaged and frankly did appear to the untrained eye to be unsafe. However there is a balance, imagine if some "moronic spotter" had been brave enough to call out the large visible cracks on boarding a certain Aloha B737? Sorry to hear btw that engineers are only able to experess the selves through aggresive profanity. Can't imagine why the paying customer reported them. Utter and complete lack of manners and people skills possibly? Also the threat of violent criminal damage, but you're right,the enthusiast with the camera is clearly the bad guy here.
As to being photographed on the walk round, I am assuming the aircraft was the target more of the time? Did you really get into a pretendy playground game of point the camera at your passengers? Should you not perhaps be otherwise occupied? Goodness me!
As to being photographed on the walk round, I am assuming the aircraft was the target more of the time? Did you really get into a pretendy playground game of point the camera at your passengers? Should you not perhaps be otherwise occupied? Goodness me!
In general, people are just taking photos of the aircraft, a memory of the one they flew on when they went to Mallorca etc. If there are a few randoms in the shot who actually cares? Nobody knows them and nobody cares who else is in the shot. It's is the big metal thing in the middle of the picture that matters, and maybe the odd family member or friends in the foreground.
KBPsen, do you honestly believe people are taking photos of other people, or of the aircraft? Why not ask them what they're doing to make sure your assumption is correct?
As for those people taking photos of pilots, well, that's just strange, if true.
KBPsen, do you honestly believe people are taking photos of other people, or of the aircraft? Why not ask them what they're doing to make sure your assumption is correct?
As for those people taking photos of pilots, well, that's just strange, if true.
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AndoniP,
Should it not be the person wishing to take a photograph that should ask first? If the answer is no then respect that and move on rather than devise ways of doing it secretly as some seem do to.
As has been noted here in a couple of posts, there are people out there who have no sense of privacy, personal space or common courtesy. That includes people who take pictures of crews, which is not uncommon.
Ask first, it's common courtesy and it's free.
Should it not be the person wishing to take a photograph that should ask first? If the answer is no then respect that and move on rather than devise ways of doing it secretly as some seem do to.
As has been noted here in a couple of posts, there are people out there who have no sense of privacy, personal space or common courtesy. That includes people who take pictures of crews, which is not uncommon.
Ask first, it's common courtesy and it's free.
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Whilst I sympathise with I LIKE TEA and KBPsen, I think that they should put it into context and take it as a compliment. They are peoples' holiday snaps: "this was our pilot", and nothing more. KBPsen's reaction would appear to indicate a certain lack of maturity for someone whose hands I'm putting my life into 
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While I agree with crew objecting to being secretly photographed, I still fail to see the problem of someone taking pictures of the aircraft or the airport. IMHO it's not so much a matter of public space or not but rather of persons vs. objects.
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1) it's not at securoty, border control, customs
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I regularly see people taking pictures of my plane and myself. Also, I'll never decline a request for a photo (even though I have 'lens shattering' looks). If that helps make their journey more enjoyable, brilliant! For the more enthusiastic, I'll even offer them the opportunity taking pictures from inside the flight deck. It's part of the job. Quite amazingly I'll even depart on time. But what's for sure, I bloody well SHOUT at any numpty who says you can't take pictures "for security reasons." And to rub it in, I'll take the pictures myself. I'll also get very unpleasant with anyone who is rude to any of our passengers (who pay my wages). If you can't be polite (even when provoked), you should really get another job.
PM
PM
Given that the vast majority of my colleagues these days have their faces plastered all over facebook I think it's then a bit rich of some of them to then start claiming "no photographs" for reasons of privacy......
Armchairflyer:
Armchairflyer:
While I agree with crew objecting to being secretly photographed, I still fail to see the problem of someone taking pictures of the aircraft or the airport. IMHO it's not so much a matter of public space or not but rather of persons vs. objects.
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I recall back in the mid to late 70s I was on a flight to Spain with Britannia Airways the cc offered photos 6x4 of the actual a/c we were flying on for sale.
Later to date, although a regional UK flight I was allowed after requesting a pic of the flight deck to await until all pax had vacated the a/c. Nice couple of pics. There was no security issue. Once the a/c is at the gate/steps the f/d door is opened anyway and from my pax experiences the f/d door is open until roll back for departure.
Daz
Later to date, although a regional UK flight I was allowed after requesting a pic of the flight deck to await until all pax had vacated the a/c. Nice couple of pics. There was no security issue. Once the a/c is at the gate/steps the f/d door is opened anyway and from my pax experiences the f/d door is open until roll back for departure.
Daz
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I think the basic advice here is "use common sense". In most cases, if what you are doing causes issues, you will be asked to stop taking pictures - and if the suggestions about shooting from the hip are taken, you will still have something to show for your efforts.
Otherwise, snap away knowing full well that, as with any other form of casual photography, 95% of your images will never get off the image taking device concerned anyway!
Has anyone ever got themselves in more trouble than a dressing down? Maybe been asked to delete "offending" images? I know about infamous cases e.g. British spotters in Greece, but they were at a military base.
Otherwise, snap away knowing full well that, as with any other form of casual photography, 95% of your images will never get off the image taking device concerned anyway!
Has anyone ever got themselves in more trouble than a dressing down? Maybe been asked to delete "offending" images? I know about infamous cases e.g. British spotters in Greece, but they were at a military base.
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In Dublin they near took the camera off us only my partner said that the camera hadnt worked anyway.
They were in a near panic when we tried to take a shot.
We had asked a steward when we disembarked and he said I didnt hear you ask so we thought it would be ok but obviously not.
They were in a near panic when we tried to take a shot.
We had asked a steward when we disembarked and he said I didnt hear you ask so we thought it would be ok but obviously not.
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Got a catalogue of boarding shots on boarding an Aer Lingus A321. Dublin seemed quite relaxed IMHO, it's the crippling inconsistency. This was the same trip where I watched the security man ignore the bags on the xray screen as he chatted at the breasts of his buxom female colleague......
Be interesting what would happen if they did try and take my camera from me.
Be interesting what would happen if they did try and take my camera from me.
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This was the same trip where I watched the security man ignore the bags on the xray screen as he chatted at the breasts of his buxom female colleague......
I also delayed the departure of an Eagle ATR for a minute or two as I was taking pictures with a long lens from outside the airport perimiter. I suppose it "could" have been a rocket launcher, but really?
A truck came out from the airport and told me to stop, which I did and off it went. Presumably, if you did want to use such a device disguised as a camera, the place to set one up with no-one noticing would be nearby SXM?
Ask first, it's common courtesy and it's free.
it's common courtesy and it's free.
I recall back in the mid to late 70s I was on a flight to Spain with Britannia Airways the cc offered photos 6x4 of the actual a/c we were flying on for sale.
Sadly what was once a commercial opportunity worthy of MOL and a bit of fun has come to be regarded by some as a threat to the nation's security....
